Portable fire-escape.



PATENTED 001*. 10, 1905. M. H. KENNEDY.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1904.

3 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IV/TVLSSHS: INVENTOR.

ATTORNEKF.

No. 801,626. PATENTED OCT. 10, 1905. M. H. KENNEDY.

PORTABLE FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.22.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HITNESSES [NI EN T 01?.

ATTORNEY'J.

MARTIN H. KENNEDY, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

PORTABLE FIRE-ESCAPE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed November 22, 1904. Serial No. 233,867.

T) [0 whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, MARTIN H. KEXNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Denver, in the county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to lire-escapes, and more particularly to that class of devices of this character employing a reel and cable whereby the user of the fire-escape may readily descend to the ground and maintain the device under absolute control at all times during the descent.

The object of the invention is to provide a portable fire-escape which is of simple and compact construction and which is provided with governing means which may be held in the hands of the user and operated simultaneously or independently, as prefcrred,tl1ereby regulating the speed of the descent.

Another object of the invention is to employ a guiding means for the unwound portion of the cable, so as to hold the same in proper relation to the body of the device at all times.

A further object of the invention is to employ a controlling means which also serves to protect the unwound portion of the cable from injury.

\Vith the above and further objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter to be more fully described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the preferred form of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved fire-escape. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof and showing the hook removed from the cable. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4: is a section on line 1 at, Fig. 1.

Referring to the "figures by numerals of reference, 5 is a back plate having a depending ear 6, provided with apertures 7 for the reception of means for securing any suitable lmdy-holding device thereto. A face-plate 7 is disposed adjacent the back plate and is spaced therefronrby a substantially cylind rical band S,which is preferably permanently connected to said back plate 6, excepting at its ends 9, which are spaced apart to form an outlet 10. A bolt 11 is non-revolubly moun ted within the centers of the plates 5 and 7 and is provided at one end with an adjusting head or nut 12, which is threaded thereon, while upon its other end is located a disk 13, having a lever .lsl projecting from it. This disk engages threads formed u )on the bolt, and when rotated by means of ever 14 it is adapted to press the central portions of the plates 5 and 7 inward.

A spool 15 of any suitable construction is rotatably mounted on the bolt 11 between the plates 5 and 7, and disposed between the ends of the spool and the respective plates 5 and 7 are disks 16. A cable 17, formed of any suitable material, is secured to the spool 15 and is adapted to be wound thereon. This cable may be provided at its outer end with a hook 18 for engagement with a win- (low-sill or any other suitable supportingbody.

Each of the plates 5 and 7 has an car 19, and these two cars are disposed at opposite sides of the opening 10, formed between the ends of band 8. The cars are connected by pins 20, secured thereto by means of nuts 21 or in any other suitable manner, and on these pins are pivotally mounted the members 22 and 23 of a grip of peculiar construction. These members are channeled longitudinally and are formed at their inner ends with overlapping toes 24, which contact with the ends of band 8 and are supported thereby. The toes of member 22 work between those of member 23, as shown in Fig, 4. Roller 25 is mounted upon the pivot-pin of member 23 and serves to guide the cable as it passes upward from the spool 15 through the opening 10. A block 26 is secured within member 23 and has a longitudinallyextending passage 27 therein, through which the cable 17 passes. Said cable as it passes outward is therefore held at all times in proper relation to the grip and to the body of the device. The block 26 is preferably constructed of wood, so as to prevent any undue injury to the cable during the passage of the same from the body.

It will be understood that the cable 17 is normally wound upon spool 15. It is therefore thoroughly protected by the casing, which is formed of plates 5 and 7 and band 8. When it is desired to use the device, the hook 18 is placed in engagement with a windowsill or other supporting-body of sufficient strength, and lever 14 and disk 13 are rotated, so as to clamp the spool 15 between the plates 5 and 7, thereby holding the same against rotation. The person to descend then places himself within the supportingstraps or other device to be connected to ear 6 and which have not been shown and grasps the lever 14 in one hand and draws the grip members 22 and 23 together with the other hand. This last action of the grip members causes the toes 24 to bear downward on the ends of band 8 and forces them into frictional contact with the periphery of the spool, thereby materially assisting the lever 14 in holding the spool against movement. W hen it is desired to move downward, the lever 14 is rotated, so as to release the plates 5 and 7 from pressure, and the grip members 22 and 23 are also allowed to swing apart, so as to relieve the spool 15 of frictional contact with the ends of band 8. I It will of course be understood that if there is absolutely no friction upon the spool the cable 17 will unwind very rapidly, and as this is not desirable it is necessary to exert at all times a slight pressure upon the grip members, so as to cause the toes 24 to bear on the ends of bands 8 with a certain degree of pressure. If desired, however, the rotation of the spool may be governed solely by means of lever 14 and disk 13, or said lever and its disk, as well as the grip members 22 and 23, can be utilized in unison for governing the rotation of the spool. It will of course be seen that as the cable unwinds the spool and its casing and all parts connected thereto will descend, and the speed of the descent will be governed solely by the degree of pressure exerted upon the spool by either or both of the controlling devices.

I attach considerable importance to the nut 12, because by employing the same the normal pressure upon the ends of the spool can be regulated in proportion to the weight to be carried by the fire-escape. For example, if a man weighing two hundred pounds is to be lowered by the device the nut is tightened, so that a proper pressure upon the spool will be had when the lever 14 is in approximately the position shown in Fig. 1to wit, adjacent the grip members 22 and 23. Should the person to be lowered weigh con siderably less than two hundred pounds, the nut 12 can be loosened, so that the proper pressure may still be obtained with the lever in the same position. Any additional amount of pressure may of course be had by the grips and lever, so that two or three additional persons can be carried at once. The cable 17 can be wound upon the spool by removing the front plate 7, and thus permitting access to be had to the spool, which can be turned in any preferred manner, as by screwing a knob into the spool at a point near its periphery. While the hook 18 can be employed for engaging a suitable supporting-body, the cable can also be secured to a support by wrapping it therearound and then placing the hook in engagement with a portion of the cable.

In the forgoing description I have shown the preferred form of my invention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a movable portion and a spool revolubly mounted within the casing; of grip members pivoted upon the casing and separated from, but adapted to press, the movable portion of the casing upon the spool.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a movable portion and a spool revolubly mounted within the casing; of grip members pivoted upon the casing and separated from, but adapted to press, the movable portion of the casing upon the spool, and a guide within one of said members.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing, a movable portion, an outlet in said movable portion and a spool revolubly mounted Within the casing, of oppositely-disposed grip members movably mounted upon the casing and sepa rated from, but contacting with, the movable portion of the casing, and a guide within one of said members.

4. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an outlet, and movable casing portions adjacent the out let, a cable-carrying device mounted within the casing, oppositely-disposed grip members movably connected to the casing adjacent the outlet and separated from but adapted to bear upon the movable portion of the casing to retard the movement of the cable therein.

5. A device of the character described comprising a casing having an outlet, said casing having movable portions adjoining the outlet, a cable-carrying device mounted within the casing, oppositely-disposed grip members movably connected to the casing, said members being separated from but adapted to bear upon the movable portion of the casing to force it into contact with the cable-carrying device.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having an outlet, a movable portion adjacent the outlet and a cable-carrying device movably mounted within the casing; of oppositely-disposed overlapping grip members movably connected to the casing adjacent the outlet and bearing upon but separated from the movable portion ot the casing.

7. In a device ot the character described,

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having a def pressible portion and a rotatable device within the said casing adapted to be contacted the combination. with a casing having an outlet and depressible casing portions; oi oppositely disposed overlapping grip members movably connected to the casing and bearing upon but separated from the depressible portion of the casing.

S. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing having an outlet, and a depressible portion; of a spool mounted within the casing and adapted to be contacted by the depressible portion, op-

positely-disposed overlapping grip members pivoted to the casing and separated from but normally bearing upon the depressible portion of the casing.

9. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a casing having an outlet and a depressible casing portion adjacent the outlet; of a spool rotatably mounted within the casing and adapted to be contacted by the depressible portion, a grip member pivoted to the casing adjacent the outlet and separated from but bearing upon the depressible portion.

by the depressible portion of oppositely-disposed pivoted grip members having overlapping toes normally bearing on the depressible portion but detached therefrom, and guiding means on one of the grip members.

11. In a device of the character described, the combination with a casing comprising a front and rear plate, means for depressing the same, and a depressible band interposed between the plates and forming an aperture between the ends thereof; of a reel revolubly mounted within the casing, oppositely-(lisposed grip members connected to the casing adjacent the aperture and having integral projecting portions contacting with the depressible portions of the band, and a cableguide within one of said members.

In testimony whereof I a'l'tix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN H. KENNEDY.

II-"itnesses:

Cnnsrnn E. SMEDLEY, CABLE IVIIrrEHEAD. 

